Previously v Sunderland
Clips of Jon Marks commentary
Quique Sanchez Flores final programme notes from his first spell in charge.
Several Watford players putting in performances that captured their seasons like a highlights reel… Paredes thundering down the flank before dropping a cross into Pickford’s arms, Jurado prompting gasps with his adroit, clever footwork without generating an awful lot (although in fairness his boldness did at least yield a shot or two on target and draw a penalty), Guedioura surging enthusiastically past opponents before losing control, or clumping a volley into the Rookery. Seb Prödl’s goal was just great, exactly the sort of goal that a centre-back built like a brick outhouse ought to be scoring. And young Sunderland sub Honeyman one minute being bullied off the ball in a grossly unfair confrontation with Troy, the next hacking the ball into the stand in terror in the mistaken expectation that his adversary was closing in…
The final table looked like this
Just before the half hour, Niang went on a wonderful forward run but, after doing all the hard work his shot was straight at a defender. As the play returned to the other end of the pitch, he just ambled around. I wondered whether he had an injury, but it soon became clear that he just needed a sit down after his exertions.
It was refreshing to see us play some good football and get a deserved win, refreshing to know we can still grind out a victory, refreshing to know that there’s now no international football until June.
BSAD report: There was a good atmosphere inside Vicarage Road on Tuesday night. Watford were once invincible ‘under lights’. The sense of anticipation was raised a notch or too higher than it might normally be on a Tuesday game. Was tonight going to be one of those nights?
